I've spent my entire day off trying to get the penultimate part for my 1st PC build. However, I'm still confused. I just want one that doesn't have a coil whine but it seems like all these models have reviews or reports of coil whine so I'm completely confused on which to buy. I don't understand if the coil whine is due to the KM3 models. It's also confusing when looking up reviews because the X series models are updated, however a lot of the reviews are for the previous generation. I'm just looking for any guidance that can be provided. All of the below mentioned models are in my price range.

First of all, I'll second the observation that the power figures are too high. Would need more info to specify actual need.

Second, you do know those Corsair AX models are made by Seasonic, right? If you're wary of the Seasonic-related whine reports, I would steer well clear of all that and pick something like the Supwerflower/Kingwin suggested - or my personal favourite Nexus. They're hardly the latest design, but they have been highly compatible, robust and 80+ Bronze is nothing to scoff at. I've used Coolermaster PSUs in builds for others when Nexus has not been available, and none of those units have whined (typically used the Silent M Pro in 500-600 W varieties).

Here's my list of components. Sorry I forgot to post them. Although, I don't see how a smaller PSU will be more efficient. I've never heard of Kingwin, but from what I've read thus far they don't seem to be very good. I suppose, at least Seasonic and Corsair have good return policies if I have to RMA.

Your theoretical peak power consumption will be less than 300W, maybe around 250W in actual use.

Now, to answer your question about efficiency. PSUs are not very efficient at very low loads. Your system will spend most of the time running at 100W for typical applications unless of course you actually do run Furmark all day. The drop off in efficiency beyond 80% power is quite substantial but below that is fine. Hence a high quality 400-500W PSU would be best. Any bigger than that and you're wasting your money, as are many other people.

The GTX670 requires 2x 6-pin PCI-E power connectors which may narrow your choice a little unless you want to use a splitter cable. The Seasonic Platinum 460 fanless would be very suitable.

I was leery of the Kingwin/Superflower names - they do sound like plastic toy makers - but the units do review very well. People have had samples with issues, but the same goes for almost every other name in the business when it comes to the high efficiency models (and especially the generic brands and their budget models).

The thing about hi-power (.7-1.0 kW) units is you're wasting money (and precious resources, if you think about it) on components and circuitry you will never utilise. Efficiency at different loads is pretty much a moot point nowadays with the flat curves the 80 Plus certification guarantees, but there is still a point to that, which I shall demonstrate with the following graphic:

That's the PSU I use. Pretty flat right, there's like a 4 percentage point variation in that, can't be too many watts in a PSU rated for 530 W. This is what the 80 Plus spec was made for, consistency, besides raising the efficiency baseline. Now what's noteworthy here is how the graph line only starts after 20%. This is because the 80 Plus certification starts at 20% rated wattage, i.e. they guarantee the proper efficiency from that point onwards.

As edh pointed out, your power consumption, as well as the consumption of most modern desktops, will typically be at or around 100 W, even less than that for systems that have more mainstream GPUs. This means that most of the time (what typical means), your PSU is working outside any sort of certified efficiency range. 80 W would be 10% of 800 W, which is just ridiculous. As for the peak, 300 W sounds about right; the card has been tested to have a 180 W absolute-torture-test-maximum draw, and your CPU should have around a 110 W absolute-100%-load-maximum. The other components in your system have draws in the single digits.

Even if we consider gaming, you're not looking at peak draw. Judging by the Techpowerup review of the card, you'll find it eating up some 150-160 W in graphics-heavy games, whereas your CPU will hardly be 100% loaded. The 250 W edh estimated is probably not far off at all.

250-300 W from an 800 W rated PSU doesn't even reach 50% of the rating. You don't need the power reserve for gaming, for torture tests or future-proofing. It's just waste, quite literally in a sense.

PS. The Sabertooth is a big waste of money. It's a popular choice because people fall for the hype, but the reviews have found it lacking, and the "armour" to even be detrimental. I would switch to mATX if possible, if you're only going to have 1 or 2 cards in the system. Compact rigs are arguably nicer to live with, and the P8Z77-M Pro I've been very happy with would save you close to $100 (which you can put towards a nice(r) case and the fan swap you'll need for the cooler, or you can update that Dell into an Eizo Foris). Also, the WD Black HDD is going to be noisy - you already have an SSD, so definitely get a Red or Green as your storage drive, much nicer and still plenty quick.

PPS. If we consider the above efficiency curve, it would be pretty fantastic to have typical consumption in the optimal efficiency range and have the best possible efficiency for the highest loads, no? Assuming efficiency is highest around 50% of rated wattage, this would mean the ideal PSU would be 100 W x 2 = 200 W. Since you DO require power reserve for gaming, we have to calculate that as well; the tail end of the efficiency peak being around 60%, this would be 250 W / 0,6 = 416 W. The expected 300 W peaks would still be covered by that rating (341 W output if 80 Plus Bronze). If we assume a degradation of 20% (crazy much) over the product's lifetime, we'd need 376 W of output, i.e. a rated power of 458 W at 80 Plus Bronze spec.

Summa summarum: get a 450-500 W Bronze PSU or shoot for the stars with 400 W Gold/Platinum.

PSU: Your stressed load power is going to be ~300W and probably 250W while gaming. If you go with a fanned PSU, I'd aim for something in the 500W range...not because you need the wattage, but because most fan profiles ramp up quickly once you get to 50% loading. If you go fanless, then 400W will work (other than the need for additional PEG connectors). The Kingwin LZP-550 is a nice supply. As are the various Seasonic Gold and Platinums. It's definately a YMMY issue on whether or not you will get electronic whine with your build. If you just want to pull the trigger today, Newegg is having a one day sale on the Seasonic 660XP for $90 after MIR and promo code EMCYTZT3071. Overkill for wattage, but a really nice price.

Other comments: Your chosen Gfx card and the WD Black will be noisy. Sabertooth mobo is mostly hype. The Crucial M4 is nice but for $10 more you can get the Samsung 840 Pro...or you can wait for when either goes on sale.

Steve's got a point about the fan profiles. Too few have their fan profile graphs up on the product specs page, but it's always a good idea to try and match your situation.

Example from Nexus' site:

(the model name equals the rated wattage you have to match the load % with)

There are faster SSDs, but the m4s are pretty damn reliable at this point (and certainly no slouches, in typical use you'll hardly notice the difference since most loads are handled so fast), and the firmware is guaranteed mature. Up to personal preference what you choose to prioritise of course - if anything I would look at getting a 256 GB model - it's $60 more on Newegg, whereas the 840 Pro is out of stock.

Other comments: Your chosen Gfx card and the WD Black will be noisy. Sabertooth mobo is mostly hype. The Crucial M4 is nice but for $10 more you can get the Samsung 840 Pro...or you can wait for when either goes on sale.

I've already bought the products listed months ago so I'm not returning them. I've tried out my GTX video card and I'm very happy with it and I didn't hear any noise. Although, it's not right next to my ear either. Hopefully, the case I decide on will be able to drown out what little noise is left. I'm not so against noise as I am coil whine.

Does anyone have the new AX760 model from Corsair? From what I've read on other forums, there seems to be an issue with Seasonic's power supply units that are being supplied to Corsair. Many seem to have the coil whine. Corsair refuses to address the known issue, which is odd.

Regarding wattage, there's no downside to getting 700ish wattage and I have no problem with the price, as long as I get quality.

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